Transplanting-tool.



W. H. WOLFP.

TRANSPLANTING TOOL.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 12, 1912.

1,062,679. Patented May 27, 1913;

WITNESSES INVENTOR I jyJmW Atl0ry UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. WOLFF, 0F NESTOR, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR, OF ONE-HALF T0 CLYDER. OLMS'IED, 0F NESTOR, CALIFORNIA.

TRANSPLANTING-TOOL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 27,1913.

Application filed September 12, 1912. Serial No. 720,047.

new and useful improvements in trans planting tools such as are designedto be employed for removing young plants or seedlings from the boxes ortrays in which they are grown and set-ting them out in beds.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide a transplanting tool ofthis character which is comparatively simple and in expensive in itsconstruction, which enables the young plants to be readily moved Withoutunduly disturbing the roots thereof, and which is easy and convenient ofmanipulation.

With this and other objects in view, the invention consists in certainnovel combinations and arrangements of the parts as will more fullyappear as the description proceeds, the novel features thereof beingpointed out in the appended claims.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to thefollowing de scription and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is aperspective view of a transplanting tool constructed in accordance withthe invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is ahorizontal sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 3, showing a-modified form of the invention which isadapted to be employed for removing young plants from square nurseryboxes.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

Specifically describing the present em bodiment of the invention, thenumerals 1 and 2 designate a pair of complemental semi-cylindricalblades which are adapted to be forced down into the earth upon oppositesides of the young plant to be moved. The upper ends of the blades 1 and2 are connected to the extremities of a spring strip 3 which is doubledupon itself and at the middle portion thereof is formed with a loop 3into which the handle 4: is inserted.

Any suitable fastening member such as the rivet 5 may be employed forsecuring the handle 4 within the loop 3.

The upper end of the blade or jaw 2 is provided at the inner edgesthereof with the outwardly offset ears 6, the offset portions of theears being perforated to loosely receive lugs 7 which project from theedges of the blade 1. The two blades 1 and 2 are thus held againstrelative longitudinal movement so that both blades move together whenthe tool is forced into the ground during the transplanting operation.However, the two jaws can be readily sprung apart should such benecessary to release the plant, since the lugs 7 merely extend throughthe offset portions of the ears 6. The lower ends of the jaws or blades1 and 2 are normally flared outwardly a slight extent, as indicated byFigs. 1 and 2, this position of the blades being due to the resilientaction of the spring arms provided by the ends of the strip 3. However,when downward pressure is transmitted through the arms 3 to the outer orcurved sides of the blades 1 and 2, the said pressure tends not only toforce the blades down into the soil, but also to swing the lower ends ofthe blades together. When the transplanting tool is withdrawn, afterhaving been thrust into the soil, the upward pull of the operator istransmitted through the arms 3 to the outer curved sides of the jaws 1and 2 and normally tends to swing the lower ends of the jaws apart so asto release the plant. It will be obvious, however, that if necessary thejaws 1 and 2 can be sprung apart by the operator for the purpose ofreleasing the plant.

A slight modification is shown in Fig. 4c, in which the complementaljaws 1 and 2, instead of being semi-cylindrical in shape, have a squareor angular formation. With jaws or blades constructed in this manner thetool can be readily employed for transplanting plants from the squareboxes in which they are received from the nursery. The operation andremaining features of construction are identical with that previouslydescribed.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A transplanting tool including a pair of complemental concave jawshaving a loose connection with each other, a handle, and a spring stripdoubled upon itself, the middle portion of the spring strip beingsecured to the handle while the end portions thereof are secured to therespective jaws.

2. A transplanting tool including a pair of complemental concave jaws,offset ears at the upper end of one of the jaws, said oifset ears havingperforations therein, lugs projecting from the opposite jaw and looselyreceived within the perforations of the offset ears, a handle, andspring arms projecting from the handle andsecured to the jaws.

3. A transplanting tool including a pair of complemental concave jaws,offset ears projecting from the upper end of one of the jaws and havingperforations therein, lugs projecting from the opposite jaw and looselyreceived within the said perforations, a handle, and a spring stripdoubled upon itself,

the intermediate portion of the spring strip being secured to the handlewhile the end portions thereof are secured to the upper ends of thecomplemental jaws at points re- WILLIAM H. WOLFE.

WVitnesses WARNER PRAUL, MINNIE I. PRAUL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissionenot Patents, Washington, D.- C.

